Why are we not affiliated to any other group?

I was asked recently why we were not working with any other groups, it's a very good question and one I have often asked myself.
I have written some of my thoughts previously, but I will clarify or try to.
It is true to say there are groups etc all over the UK who are all trying to get the needs of children in the public arena.
So it makes sense, you would think, to be acting together.
In my experience sadly that is not always the case.
Some organisations and groups have hidden agendas it could be they are trying to promote a book, a person or a political focus.
I am none of the above.
I absolutely agree that running an organisation or group is costly and that trying to raise funds is very difficult indeed, and so the need to look for funding through advertising is attractive and there is nothing wrong with that at all, it depends what or who are advertising.
It is important for me to be able to say what I want to say to whom I want to say it, without getting permission from some head of an organisation or for it to have to go to a faceless board of people, who actually have absolutely no personal experience of the situation we find ourselves in.
If government funding is involved, not that there is much of that around now, through a dept of such and such, those groups are towing a party line.
Then you have individuals who are in fact promoting themselves, maybe they are about to launch their new book or video or training programme.
Ok, so I am sounding harsh, but I have had my fingers burnt very badly indeed in the past and I am trying very hard not to let that happen again.
I don't have a hidden agenda, my agenda is to support people who are denied contact with children and to keep the focus on that and nothing else.
So I hope that answers the question.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk